Reporter-News Archives Friday, August 29, 1997 Former KTXS weatherman heading for Panhandle By BILL WHITAKER / Abilene Reporter-News After a stint at Dallas' WFAA-TV lasting only a few weeks, former KTXS-TV meteorologist Steve Kersh is bound for forecasting duties with ABC affiliate KVII-TV in Amarillo. His new duties begin next Wednesday. "We were real lucky and scored a coup in getting one of the most talented meteorologists in Texas," KVII news director and Abilene native Kent Harrell said Thursday. Although Kersh was at KTXS just two years, he and the station's Live Doppler 12 weather system made KTXS-TV popular with area viewers. Kersh was especially noted for his after-hours alerts during threatening weather. Popular though Kersh was, he and his weather alerts occasionally garnered public criticism for often interrupting regular programming. Also, some city officials insisted one or two alerts were somewhat exaggerated. In July Kersh left KTXS-TV for what he called a "dream job" -- trying out during weekends for a weather forecasting slot at Dallas' mega-station, WFAA-TV. However, the tryout lasted only a few weeks. Kersh, 27, said he gained approval of seven station executives but that an executive with the Belo Corporation, which owns the station, found him "too soft-spoken and too laid-back." After that, Kersh said, "I was taken off the air immediately." Kersh said he accepted the risk when he jumped at the chance to try out. Even so, he expressed disappointment, going from "being gainfully employed and living a childhood dream to being unemployed." For the past few weeks, Kersh has been back in Abilene, where he and his wife Kristy live, pondering job opportunities. The Amarillo station's offer, he said, was too much to turn down. "Of course, severe weather is quite important to them," he said, alluding to the area's tendency to attract tornadoes. "It's really everything to them and they made me a fantastic offer." KTXS-TV officials have yet to replace Kersh, though they say they intend to have a third meteorologist on board soon to join George Flickinger and LeAnn Allison.     Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1997, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications